(734) 213-0017
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
www.motawi.com
About Motawi Tileworks
Located in Ann Arbor, Mich., Motawi Tileworks (The Tileworks) makes handcrafted tile as art pieces and for residential and commercial installations. Owner and Artistic Director Nawal Motawi began creating historically inspired tile in her garage and selling it at the local farmers market. Demand for her work grew, and in 1992 Motawi formed The Tileworks, which came to specialize in Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts and Midcentury Modern aesthetics.
In addition to its own unique designs, The Tileworks is also licensed to produce art tile based on the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Charley Harper. Motawi art tiles are now sold in more than 300 locations in the U.S. and Canada, and Motawi tile installations grace homes and public spaces worldwide. For more information, visit motawi.com.
On the mantel, vintage pottery is by Catalina, Redwing, and Langleyware (England). Newer pieces are from Ephraim Pottery and Van Briggle; the tile is from Motawi. The family room’s fireplace features Motawi Tileworks’ ‘Mission Lily’ design. It’s flanked with built-in bookcases.
Period glaze colors on a mosaic floor by Motawi.
A great accent tile can be the genesis for an entire bathroom design. Motawi’s Dard Hunter series, based on the work of the legendary Arts & Crafts artist, confers an instant sense of history. The tiles are so distinctive that you needn’t splurge on very many—fill in the rest of the space with coordinating squares in a deep, brilliant green that will transform the room into a soothing oasis. Accent and field tiles, Motawi. 
Art tiles from Motawi.
To contact the installation design department directly, please email installationdesign@motawi.com or call (734) 213-0017.
The Tile-making Process
Motawi Tileworks makes three types of tile:
- Art tile: Glazed, multicolored tile for individual display or installation
- Field tile: Glazed, single-colored tile for installation
- Relief tile: Glazed, single-colored tile with a sculpted surface
Tile designs are etched into plaster molds. Clay is pressed into the mold, trimmed and bisque-fired in the kiln. Each tile is then glazed by hand and returned to the kiln for a final firing. Motawi art tile glazers employ the centuries-old Cuenca technique, carefully filling glazes into the “basins” created by thin, raised lines in the clay.
